The Sports Guru

What a month of May.  The Indians are slowly fading to oblivion.  The Cavs finished up their inspired run in the NBA Playoffs that left us counting the days until camp opens(151).  The Browns finished the draft and their first organized teams functions of the NFL “Off-Season”.  Unfortunitely, all three teams have also made the news for other, less positive reasons.  All three have had run-ins with the police, and not for the first time.

Cleveland Cavs - On May 29th Gloria James, the mother of LeBron James, pleaded No Contest and was found guilty of 4 charges, including reckless operation, speeding, disorderly conduct and physical control of a motor vehicle under the influence.  The incident occured on January 20th of this year and included Ms. James nearly hitting an unmarked car with her Cadillac Escalade.  When the officers pulled her over, she smelled of alcolohol. fought with officers as they tried to arrest her and eventually kicked the window out of a police vehicle.  True, this particular event didn’t directly invlove a Cavalier, but when it is the Mom of the most recognized names in sports, it’s news.  For her crime, James will have to attend a “alcohol is bad” class and lost her license until January 2007.

Cleveland Browns - On May 24, Browns RB Reuben Droughns turned himself in to Littleton  and after spending the night in jail was released on $2500 bail charged with one count of Assault and two counts of Harrassment in an alledged domestic incident on May 12 involving his wife, Kellie.  Droughns and his wife apparently had an arguement which escalated into a physical confrontation.  He allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the ground and later grabbed her by the waist and threw her on the bed.  After telling him she wanted a divorce, Droughns went on to grab her and throw her out the door, causing an arm injury.  Kellie called her mom in Texas, who called Police.  Droughns was gone when police arrived and took a statement from Kellie.  Surprisingly(NOT), Kellie has made several attempts to drop the charges.  Earlier this year, Droughns beat a DUI rap in court after being pulled over after a function in Medina Oh. 

The latest happened just today and involved the Indians.  Lefty-Reliever Scott Sauerbeck was arrested, hiding in some bushes nonetheless, after fleeing a vehicle the Police were trying to stop for erratic driving.  Police began to follow the car after it crossed the center line.  The car then turned quickly down a side street and pulled into a driveway where Sauerbeck and the female with him jumped out and fled the vehicle.fled the vehicle.  Umm, I think that only works in the movies or on T.V.  Anyway, after a short search, officers found the two hiding under some bushes.  The female was apparently driving and was charged with DUI.  Sauerbeck was charged with a couple on Misdemeanors.

A wild a wooly month indeed for Cleveland’s sports franchises.  I would love to know if any other city has seen each of it’s Major Sports franchises involved in Police incidents during the same month or weekend before.  Please let me know.

In any case, let’s hope these teams can get into the news for all the right reasons and stay out of the Police Blotter…..

What a great weekend.  The RIbs were tremendous as always.  There are 2, count ‘em TWO, Rib Cook-offs during Memorial Day Weekend in the Cleveland Area and I had to partake in both.  My favorite from the competition in at the Tower City Ampitheatre was Butch’s, which combined an incredible sauce with fall-off-the-bone ribs that had me going back for more.  I also tried the pulled pork and it was sensational as well.  I have already ordered some of the sauce, and hope to see Butch in future competitions.

There is also a Cook-Off at the Cuyahoga County Fairrounds.  A little history for you.  Back when the Guru was just a little tike, the National Rib Cook-Off was hosted at the fairgrounds.  10 years or so ago, they decided to move the competition to downtown Cleveland.  The fairgrounds, unphased by this, started their own competition.  In my opinion, the “Berea Rib Cook-off” is actually better that the one at the TCA because of the “county-fair” atmosphere and is definitely more kid friendly. 

My favorite from Berea was Cowbows Barbeque from Texas.  Unfortunitely they don’t have a website that I could find, but there were incredible.  A different type of rib than Butch but equally as good.  And sadly, another Memorial Day Rib Weekend has passed.  Luckily, there are Rib events all summer long around here, so I will be able to partake in all the pork I can handle all summer long.  Here’s oinkin’ atcha!

A quick look at the weekend in sports -

*The Indians starting pitching has looked awful for the better part of 4 weeks, with the exception of C.C. Sabathia.  Down in Buffalo sits Jeremy Sowers, 6-1 with an ERA about 1.00.  Are you kidding me?  Call this kid up.  You can only get lucky with the reclamation project so many times, a Kevin Millwood last year was our time.  Jason Johnson has pitched exactly the saem way he has pitched his career.  He is over 30 game under .500 as a starter and has looked the part this year.  The rediculous contract he received this winter was a bad signing then, and a complete disgrace now.  Let the young kids that we are going to NEED the next few years get their experience this year so that they are ready next year.  I know it is probably too early to write off the season, but the Tribe is already 10+ games behind the Tigers and 9 games behind the White Sox, who crushed the Tribe 11-0 yesterday….On second thought, maybe it ISN’t too early to write off the season….

*Congrats to the Cavs for ending the Pistons run.  Well, it will officially be the Heat that beats the Pistons in the ECF, but make no mistake, it was LeBron James and the Cavaliers who pushed the Pistons to the brink.  The Pistons look tired and old against the Heat, and it was the Cavs who did it to them.  In a series they figured they would sweep, Detroit had to fight and claw for every win and emotionally are having a tough time getting up for a Miami team with revenge on its’ mind.  Kudos to the Cavs!

*In the other Conference Final, Dallas has a 2-1 advantage over the Suns.  I have a new-found re[ect for Phoenix.  How many teams would have lost a player of Amare Stoudemire’s caliber and still made it THIS far.  If there was any question about Steve Nash being the MVP these playoffs should squash them forever.  Yes, LBJ had a GREAT season, but what Nash means to the Suns is truly MVP.  Dallas, on the other hand, just continues to quietly go about their business.  Avery Johnson has brought a mental toughness to a team that had NONE under Don Nelson.  They took the best shot of the Spurs, and came back to win Game 7 on the road.  After getting punched in the face by the Suns in Game 1, they rebounded to win the last 2 rather handily.  I like this team, and like it’s chances against the Heat should they meet in the Finals.

*Sam Hornish Jr. won the Indy 500 over Marco Andretti by the slimmest of margins.  Can all the Danica Patrick talk PLEASE STOP NOW….There are better drivers to promote in this series than her.  She finished 8th, which is respectible, but not worth the constant babbling done about her by ESPN, ABC and others.  If women truly want equality, then Patrick should get the same treatment any other driver would get for having 0 career victories.  With drivers like Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish, and a phemom with unquestionable pedigree in Marco Andretti, there ARE BETTER STORIES out there, please go find them!

*Ricky Williams in Canada.  Playing for the Toronto Argonauts.  The punch-lines are coming faster than the drug-test for Ricky, but remember this; Even though there is NO drug testing policy, Ricky CAN BE TESTED up to 10 times per month by the NFL.  So before you say Ricky is “Light-Up” the CFL, he still needs to stay clean to have any shot at a return to the Dolphins.